Coping with the Winter Hiatus

Growing up as a young television viewer, I remember that after November Sweeps you would be lucky if you get two or three episodes in before the Holiday Season. I used to enjoy waiting for the promos to the Christmas episodes most television shows would do. This was back in 2002 and now in the 2011 Fall Season, most  shows are saying Goodbye a bit earlier now. Question is, does this affect your viewing?

Back when there wasn't a thing called "on-line viewing" or "DVR" for that matter, most shows would have at least 13 episodes before the winter hiatus began. Now, we get lucky if a show pushes for 10 episodes. Most shows are now entering the hiatus right before Thanksgiving. High-Rated shows stay just before November Sweeps is about to be over or if lucky come back for one week after Thanksgiving. 

The winter hiatus comes at a time when most Americans are busy doing their holiday shopping and going off to holiday parties. I have to admit, as a busy college student dealing with finals, my shows that i usually watch as "appointment television" were DVRed because of student priorities. While people are more inclined to skip out on TV viewing in December, fans of favorite TV shows still feel bothered when their shows enter a six week hiatus. So how do we cope?

 The good thing is with the Holiday season upon us, it actually helps us play catch up. Here are some tips to help you get through this holiday season.

1. You can always go back and rewatch: Whether you Hulu or DVR it You can catch up with the latest season right on your computer. (I plan to do that with ABC's Revenge)

2. TV Shows on DVD make Great Stocking Stuffers: Go out and buy the DVD's. Very Affordable and a great present.

3. Holiday Specials: They take our timeslots away but ,hey the are a ratings win

4. Look out for those Promos: Watching the game or a rerun, the broadcast networks will always sneak a promo for the 2012 season. Be ready for them.

By the time you know it January will be here and we will be ready for all the Mid-season Fun!

Inviting all for an Express Christmas

What a way to end the first half of your third season by celebrating the holidays a tiny bit early. Modern Family, which has been at the top of the ratings this season, decided to bring Christmas to viewers early through crazy antics and laughs. With the holiday season and winter hiatus beginning, MF has graciously provided a hilarious way celebrate the season, Express Christmas.

Missing Mommy: The holidays have always been special for Claire and Mitchell, spending their Christmas with mom, but this Christmas Mom has other plans, spending Christmas with her boyfriend. When they find out that everyone has different plans for the holidays, it prompts Phil to create an "Express Christmas"that has everyone scrambling out to get the perfect tree, gifts& food to make Christmas be on December 16th

When you want things to go right they end up wrong: Mitchell and Alex team up to go look for the perfect Christmas tree. What i love about this episode is it opens new dynamics with the cast and stirs up even more comedy. After finding the tree, Mitch and Alex swerved so they won't hit another car but end up losing the tree. Gloria and Luke end up driving at the same time only to run over the tree. With the special angel in hand, Gloria sees a spider, throws it out of the car window and in return the angel gets run over too. I have to say Sofia Vergara 's comedic timing is on point in this episode. Her and Nolan Gould are a great dynamic.

Don't be such a Scrooch: Jay is never really into the Holidays so while helping Cam wrap presents (who is wearing a tacky sweater in 95 degree weather) he can't help but feel like a bah humbug. In the middle of wrapping, Cam gives Jay his gift which is a memento from the first wine they drank together when they first met. Jay can't remember and Cam is instantly hurt.

Its not a Christmas without Snow: After a shopping spree at Target and a Turkey exchange for a baseball card, the gang ends up back and the home of Phil and Claire where its evident that Express Christmas won't likely be happening. Jay speaks up and decides for the family to forget about Christmas dinner and instead go out for Chinese. When they open the door they find the front yard covered in snow from a snow machine.

The message behind the episode: No matter where or who you are celebrating the holidays with, Family is everything.

Modern Family returns for new episodes Jan 4, 2012